Children may be promoted through belts in the following order: white, grey/white, solid grey, grey/black, yellow/white, solid yellow, yellow/black, orange/white, solid orange, orange/black, green/white, solid green, and green/black. Each belt has 5 levels, a clear belt and then 4 stripes which may be awarded for time, knowledge, behavior, and tournament performance. Only black belts certified by the SJJIF may promote students through the belts listed.

The minimum age requirement is based and counted from the year the athlete was born. So if an athlete was born in 2002, her age is considered 10 for all of 2012. It is up to each instructor to decide how long it takes for a student to be promoted, as long as the minimum times required for each belt are fulfilled. However, a child competitor will not be authorized to compete at the same belt level if they are the champion at the same SJJIF tournament for 2 years in a row in a given belt.

Adult Belt System–16 years of age and up

Adults may be promoted through belts in the following order: white, blue, purple, brown and black. Each belt has 5 levels, a clear belt and then 4 stripes which may be awarded for time, knowledge, behavior, and tournament performance.

The age and time limits for when an adult may be promoted to a given belt color are as follows:

White – no age limit
Blue – must be at least 16 years of age
White to blue – at least 8 months at white belt
Purple – must be at least 16 years of age
Blue to purple – at least 1½ years at blue belt
(In order to be graded a purple belt at 16 years of age it is required that the athlete has spent at least 2 years as a green belt)
(In order to be graded a purple belt at 17 years of age, it is required that the athlete has spent at least 1 year as a green belt and 1 year as a blue belt)
Brown – must be at least 18 years of age
Purple to brown – at least 1½ years at purple belt
(In the case where an athlete was graded from green belt straight to purple belt, then the minimum time required before he can be awarded the brown belt is 2 years)
Black – must be at least 19 years of age
Brown to black – at least 1 year at brown belt

The following is the criteria for which instructors may promote students:

A black belt may promote students from white belt to purple belt

A 1st degree black belt may promote students from white belt to brown belt

A 2nd degree black belt may promote students from white belt to black belt

Black Belt System

Black belts have seven levels, a black belt plus 6 degrees that can only be awarded by the SJJIF according to the following:

Only athletes 19 years of age or older may be awarded a black belt. In order to request a black belt certificate, it is necessary to be currently affiliated with the SJJIF.

A black belt may request a 1st degree after 3 years as a black belt.

A black belt may request 2nd and 3rd degrees 3 years after being awarded the previous degrees.

A black belt may request 4th, 5th and 6th degrees 5 years after being awarded the previous degrees.

In order to be awarded degrees as a black belt, it is necessary that the black belt is a current SJJIF member and be listed as a main instructor or assistant instructor at an SJJIF member school.

After the 6th degree, black belts may request the red and black grandmaster belt and after that, a solid red belt. These belts can only be awarded by the SJJIF according to the following:

A black belt may request the red and black 7th degree grandmaster belt 7 years after being awarded the 6th degree black belt

A red and black 7th degree grandmaster belt may request the red and black 8th degree grandmaster belt 7 years after being awarded the red and black 7th degree grandmaster belt.